For several marvelous moments in the second quarter in its NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV sectional final at East Brunswick, Trenton High basketball had returned to the old days when the Tornadoes would run roughshod over opponents who were bigger, considered better and banking on victory.

East Brunswick’s student body section stood stunned, as if each had been tasered. Trenton swarmed, disrupted Coach Bo Henning’s plans so badly that the Bears coach deserted his mano-a-mano defense for a constricting 1-3-1 zone.

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East Brunswick (26-3) eventually gained a 59-49 victory against Coach Greg Grant’s Trenton High squad. The Tornadoes capped an impressive 21-5 season.

A good season but Trenton basketball fans have never, will never, accept almost getting to the Promised Land. Right or wrong, that’s just Trenton basketball.

The phrase that winners receive the spoils of victory got flipped as the Tornadoes loss allowed several Trenton High faithful to point the finger at reporters.

“You never hear about the good things,” crooned Trenton athletic director Sharon Grady.

First, no Mercer County athletic team received more coverage than Mr. Grant’s basketball squad. None.

Second, there have been articles and columns that highlighted Mr. Grant’s change of pace, if you will, a return to academic, social and personal standards once held in high regard.

Third, The Trentonian has featured articles and columns about the Tornadoes debate team headed by instructor Nicholas Cirillo. There have been positive stories about the Trenton High “Reading Club.” Plus, a mention of an alum who is now a doctor at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital.

Of course, a flipside exists. Truancy persists along with anemic standardized test scores. Trenton High falls down around its students. A bloodline tracks back to Trenton High as former students are shot, stabbed or murdered.

Trenton High yields both good and bad. Some ugly.

Ms. Grady should refresh her mind about an incident regarding Cirillo’s successful debaters. The suggestion to acknwoledge successes gained by the Trenton talkers came from this columnist. Trenton High dropped the ball on that opportunity.

Tornadoes’ guard Rasheed Wallace? Everybody in the world knows that The High dropped the ball on shining a bright light on his hardcourt accomplishments, including his 1,316 points total, a record.

An interesting situation occurred at East Brunswick where a young Trenton fan offered a free ticket.

He handed it over before his buddy said, “That’s L.A. Parker. He never has anything good to say about Trenton.”

The misinformation continues, especially when the idea originated from this desk for a Trenton African American Pride Festival.

Trenton remains this place where if enough people repeat an untruth then that stretched lie becomes part of an everlasting criticism.

It’s like this belief that Trenton remains in desperate need of positive role models. Yeah, that may sound accurate but it’s more wrong than one might believe. This city has a significant number of men who help raise, inspire, mentor, coach, teach, explain, support, etc.

By the way, Saturday, March 9, S.E.E.D. Male Mentoring Program hosts a workshop at True Servant Church. The 9 a.m. event at 2630 S.Broad St. continues an E.E.J. Ministries effort to inspire city youth.

“We’ve got a whole lot of guys who make a positive impact on this city. I can go on and on about men who contribute more than their fair share,” S.E.E.D. programming director, Stacy Heading said.

Heading helped Bishop Earl Jenkins bring to Trenton “Black Angels Over Tuskegee.” Several weeks ago the Broadway play attracted hundreds to the War Memorial.

Approximately 25 of the city’s brightest teen males were acknowledged during the event.

Positive. Right?

On Monday, former city police officer Luddie Austin and his family, buried his son, James, an 18-year-old murder victim.

Real Bad. Right?

The Trenton High team bus crawled into a Greenwood Avenue parking lot.

Losing had draped a pall on a decrepit building.

Positioned darkness made Trenton Central High School look better than its daylight appearance.

“You want The High? You got The High!” echoed through the dim, decaying building.

Ugly. Right?

— L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@Trentonian.com.